Hazed (Palm South University)

Her warm brown eyes are still glossy under her thick lashes, but she smiles a little. “Promise?”

My heart thumps loud in my chest, so desperate to reach for her, hold her, touch her…

Kiss her.

I swallow, trying to assure myself that everything will be okay even though I can’t be sure. All I do know is that as long as Erin wants me around, as long as she lets me be here for her, I’ll be here.

Waiting.

Wanting.

Wishing.

I force a smile and hold my hand to the sky before covering my heart. “Swear.”

THE AIRPORT SCENE AFTER Spring Break is nothing short of tragic.

All around Denver International, you can see college students from around the nation dragging their asses to their gates with all the grace of a hungover zombie. There are kids slouched in chairs with hoodies pulled up over their faces, girls sprawled out in chairs with their head in their friends’ lap, mascara-stained cheeks and red eyes on some, and I just got lucky victorious smiles on others.

The whole place reeks of sweat and tequila.

And yet, there’s a bit of jubilance hanging around.

It’s that feeling of knowing you just locked in some of the best memories of your life, ones you’ll pull out in conversation with future friends and maybe even kids one day. It’s that realization that you’re still young and wild and free, and that even if only for a little while longer, you don’t have to adult.

As for me, I’m sitting next to Skyler and a pile of bags belonging to the crew that was in our cabin, waiting for our plane to Miami to board. The rest of the gang went their separate ways for food or snacks or bathroom breaks while we stayed back.

Skyler is studying for an entrepreneurship exam she has when we get back, while I people-watch and absentmindedly smooth my fingers over the new silver letters hanging from my neck.

With a goofy smile on my face, of course.

Spring Break was nothing short of epic. And as weird as it seems, it doesn’t bother me that it’s my last one. Part of me longs for college forever, sure, but ever since Adam lavaliered me, my mind has been spinning with thoughts and wishes for the future.

I can see us moving in together after graduation, making a little house a home of our own.

I can see us grocery shopping together, having “our shows,” and traveling the world.

I can see him at the end of the aisle, me dressed in white.

I can see him holding a bouncing baby boy…

Or girl.

“Ugh,” Skyler huffs, slamming her laptop shut and scrubbing her hands over her face. “I’m going to vomit.”

I chuckle. “From studying or from all those vodka shots last night?”

Skyler fights back a gag, covering her mouth with a fist as she looks at me. “Don’t say that word.”

“Vodka? Or shots?”

She flicks my arm as she stands, abandoning her laptop in her chair. “I’m going to grab some club soda and a few snacks for the flight. You want anything?”

I shake my head. “Adam’s getting us stuff. But can I use your laptop? I want to check my email.”

“Of course,” she says with a wave, and then she’s gone.

I pull her laptop into my lap and type in my mail host in the search bar. When it loads, I sign in and filter through all the unread messages from the past week.

My heart stops when I see one from Johns Hopkins.

“Oh my God,” I whisper to myself, and I stare at the vague subject line for the longest time before I finally click inside the email.

Dear Ms. McBee,

Congratulations. It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you of your admission into the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Following this email, you can expect a full admissions packet to be delivered to the mailing address provided in your application. You have until April 30th to confirm your intention to attend and narrow your field of study. We understand your interest in…

The rest of the email goes fuzzy, as well as my brain as I scan the words over and over.

I got in.

I got in.

I. Got. In!

Even seeing the words in black and white, I don’t believe it. I mean, I applied even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to start until the spring term of next year, since I’ll be graduating in the fall with Skyler. I expected them to write me with feedback and encourage me to apply for the following scholastic year.

I never expected an acceptance.

Especially not from my first school of choice.

My heart races faster as I focus on the email again, reading that they have read my request to start in the spring and have flexibility in their programs to accommodate the request. There’s also links for housing, orientation, and more at the bottom.